Traditional Dundee Cake

1 hour 45 minutes

See questions Lindsey has answered on this recipe at the end of the method

This recipe is from Delia's Cakes.

There are a million and one versions of Dundee cake, so please don’t write to me and say this isn’t the real one!

What I can guarantee is that this is a beautiful cake. It’s not rich and moist like a Christmas cake, but lighter and more crumbly in texture.

The Delia Online Cookery School: Watch more cakes being made in our Family Cakes video lesson which includes Sticky Prune and Date Cake, Traditional Oatmeal Parkin and Apricot Oat Slices

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Defrosting Dundee Cake

Asked by: Tis the Season

Hello, I've frozen the Traditional Dundee cake for the first time. Would it be best to thaw it in its wrappings in the fridge or at room temperature? What would you recommend? I love this cake and make it almost every year at Christmas time. Thank you in advance for your advice!

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, I would remove the wrappings and defrost in a lidded container, out of the fridge. Take a look at this Cookery School video for more information about freezing cakes... https://scale-circuit.live/cookery-school/techniques/storing-and-freezing-cakes-and-biscuits Kind regards, Lindsey

About Delia's Dundee Cake...

Asked by: Seamo

I substituted golden caster sugar with caster sugar on the Traditional Dundee Cake recipe-the cake when baked was a dark colour. Was the caster sugar the problem? Seamo.

Answered by Lindsey: Hello Seamo, No it can't be because you used white castor sugar. It is quite dark on the outside but light within, but did you use a fan setting? Kind regards Lindsey

Making Dundee Cake for Christmas

Asked by: Her indoors

Hi I’m going to do the Dundee cake for Christmas instead of a traditional one although I think that I’ll soak the fruit in brandy the night before. I intend to marzipan and ice it. Question is, how far in advance can I make it and how long will it keep after Christmas.

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, Because of the smaller amount of fruit, a Dundee cake does not keep like a rich fruitcake. Undecorated it will keep for a week or so wrapped and stored in an airtight tin but I'd say a couple of weeks when decorated (especially if you brush it with whisky before you glaze it and decorate it). But if you want to keep it longer, I would freeze it, preferably on the day that it’s baked (undecorated). Kind regards Lindsey

Method

First of all sift the flour and baking powder into a roomy mixing bowl, lifting the sieve quite high to give the flour a good airing as it goes down.

Then simply add the butter, caster sugar and eggs, and, using an electric hand whisk, combine them for about 1–2 minutes until you have a smooth dropping consistency. If it seems too dry, add a dessertspoon of milk.

Next fold in all the other ingredients: currants, sultanas, cherries, mixed peel, ground almonds and orange and lemon zest. Now spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin, spreading it out evenly with the back of the spoon. Then, carefully, arrange the whole almonds in concentric circles over the top – but drop them on very lightly (if you press them down too hard they will disappear during the cooking).

Place the cake near the centre of the oven and bake for 1¾ hours or until the centre is firm and springy to touch. Allow it to cool before taking it out of the tin. Dundee cake keeps very well in an airtight tin and tastes better if it’s kept a few days before cutting.